GPS Tracking vs. Theft Prevention
Auto Theft GPS TrackingPublished July 20, 2009 at 6:17 am No Commentsby James Neely - freelance writer for hire
From Louisiana comes a news item which deals with automobile theft and insurance fraud prevention. The Commissioner of Insurance for the state of Louisiana has stated that they now have a new insurance fraud and vehicle theft website.
The purpose is to create deterrence to vehicle theft and insurance fraud by attracting money from private sources in order to provide support for law enforcement activities, make the public aware, and encourage community action with educational awareness.
While this effort is admirable and will have some impact, the state of Louisiana needs to add another prong to their approach: encourage the purchase and use of GPS vehicle tracking devices as well.
These are the reasons that they should include this approach:
Tracking in case of theft. If your vehicle is stolen and you have a GPS vehicle tracking device installed, you will be able to track your car to within a few feet of its actual location. If you have a device that sends out a constant signal, you can trace it in real-time through a website on your computer and relay the information on the location to the local police to aid in the recovery process. Your vehicle can be recovered within hours rather than days, weeks, months, or maybe not at all.
Lower insurance rates. Most insurance companies will give a deduction to those who use devices that help prevent the theft of their vehicles. It saves the insurance companies money and they return it to you in the form of lower premiums. It is a ‘win-win’ situation for all parties.
General awareness of deterrence measures. Making the community aware of theft deterrent devices in vehicles helps make for a safer place to live. It is likely that perpetrators will go elsewhere for easier targets. It also sends the message that the community is serious about their crime fighting activities and it could have a spill-over affect on the rest of the area as well.
While the Louisiana website will include tips for protecting yourself from becoming a victim of car theft, they leave out any mention of GPS vehicle tracking systems as one of the best deterrence mechanisms available. Any serious efforts need to include this option as well.
GPS vehicle tracking devices have already proven their worth many times over. Even if your state does not encourage the purchase and use of these effective devices, you can rest assured that it is money well-spent.
